Toy top

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an improved spinning top toy capable of being movable while the top is spinning, and easily coupling a launcher for rotating and launching the top and a winder for providing the top with a rotational force.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/910,016 filed on Feb. 4, 2016, which is a National Stage Applicationof International Application No. PCT/KR2014/007801, filed on Aug. 22,2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), 120 and 365(c) toKorean Patent Applications Nos. 10-2013-0099883 and 10-2013-0112720,filed on Aug. 22, 2013 and Sep. 23, 2013 respectively, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a spinning top toy, and moreparticularly, to an improved spinning top toy capable of being movablewhile the top is spinning, and easily coupling a launcher for rotatingand launching the top and a winder for providing the top with arotational force.

BACKGROUND ART

A spinning top is a kind of toy which is very popular with children, andthe children compete with each other by striking tops or bouncing outfrom an arena, wherein the last top still spinning wins.

Korea Utility Model Laid-open No. 2011-0010131 (published on Oct. 26,2011, entitled “Spinning Toy Launcher”) discloses a spinning top toyincluding a launcher for launching a spinning top by pulling a rack beltout, and the rack belt is configured to drive a drive mechanisminstalled in a launcher body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of aspinning top toy according to the related art. As illustrated in FIG. 1,the spinning top toy according to the related art includes a top 10 ofan inverted conical shape having on a top surface an insertion groove 11which is fastened to a top launcher 20, the top launcher 20 for spinningand launching the top 10, and a winder 30 for providing the top launcher20 with a rotational force.

The top launcher 20 has a rotor 21 and a top fastener 22 which areprovided at a lower portion, a winder through-hole 23 formed in one sidethrough which the winder 30 goes, and a pinion gear 24 which is meshedwith a rack gear 31 of the winder 30 to rotate the rotor 21.

The winder 30 has a winder body 31 of a strap shape with the rack gear31 formed on one side, and a pull tab 32 provided at a front end of thewinder body 31.

The winder body 31 of the winder 30 is inserted into the winderthrough-hole 23 of the top launcher 20, and if a user pulls the insertedwinder 30 out, the pinion gear 24 of the top launcher 20 is rotated bythe rack gear of the winder body 31, thereby rotating the top 10 coupledto the rotor 21. If the pinion gear 24 stops, the top 10 is releasedfrom the top fastener 22 by an inertia.

The spinning top toy according to the related art has a problem in thatsince the winder 30 should be inserted into the winder through-hole 23of the top launcher 20, and then be moved to a position of rippingaction, from which where the winder 30 is pulled out, the operation iscumbersome.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of theabove-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is toprovide an improved spinning top toy capable of being movable while thetop rotates, and easily coupling a launcher for rotating and launchingthe top and a winder for providing the top with a rotational force.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a spinning top toy including: alauncher having a winder coupling portion which is formed at one side ofa launcher housing by cutting the side so that a portion of a winder isinserted into the side and is moved, a pinion gear which is meshed withand rotated by the winder, a top driver for rotating a top incooperation with the pinion gear, and a top separator which isconfigured to separate the top from the top driver; the top which iscoupled to a lower portion of the launcher, and is selectively separatedfrom the top driver according to operation of the top separator of thelauncher; and the winder with a portion being inserted into the windercoupling portion of the launcher, the winder being horizontally movedalong the winder coupling portion in the insertion state to rotate thepinion gear.

The launcher may further have an acceleration pinion gear which ismeshed with the pinion gear to increase the number of revolutions of thepinion gear to be rotated by the winder.

The top separator of the launcher may be a launch button whichpenetrates the launcher housing, the pinion gear, and the top driver,and the launch button is operated by a press force of a user to pressthe top, so that the top is separated from the top driver.

The top separator of the launcher may be a launch firing pin whichpenetrates the launcher housing, the pinion gear, and the top driver,and the launch firing pin is operated by a press force of a user topress the top, so that the top is separated from the top driver.

The top separator of the launcher may be a stopper which is placed atone side of the launcher housing, and is meshed with the pinion gear tostop rotation of the pinion gear, so that the top is separated from thetop driver by an inertial force.

The stopper may have a stopper shaft which is installed at one side ofthe pinion gear, and is meshed with the pinion gear to selectively stopthe rotation of the pinion gear, and a spring for providing a resilientforce to the stopper shaft so that the stopper shaft is kept at a properposition.

The top separator of the launcher may be a launch operator whichpenetrates the launcher housing, the pinion gear, and the top driver,and moves the top driver in a vertical direction, so that the top isseparated from the top driver.

The top driver may have a lower housing which is formed with a piniongear engaging groove, to which the top separator is engaged, and acoupling portion penetrating hole through which the coupling portionpenetrates, a top housing which is installed on the lower housing, andis formed with a first through-hole through which the top driverpenetrates, and a second through-hole through which an insertion boss ofthe support penetrates, a pair of coupling portions which are installedin coupling portion penetrating holes of the lower housing to be able tomove to each other, the coupling portions being spaced apart from eachother in a desired distance, and which are formed with a stepped portionat a distal end thereof, a coupling portion guide which is formed at anupper end of each coupling portion, and has an inclined groove, a springwhich is installed between the coupling portions to resiliently maintaina gap between the coupling portions at a desired distance, and a supportwhich has an inclined insertion boss formed at distal end thereof whichpenetrates the upper housing, the insertion boss being fitted into thecoupling portion guide of the coupling portion so that the couplingportion is supported to move inwardly in a radial direction.

The top driver may have a plurality of coupling portions which extendfrom a bottom surface thereof in a desired length and are coupled to ablade of the top.

The winder may have a rack gear portion of a strap shape with a rackgear formed on one side, a pull tab formed on a front end of the otherside, and a winder coupling portion inserting groove which is formed bycutting a portion of the rack gear portion in a longitudinal directionto have a desired size so that the rack gear portion is inserted intothe winder coupling portion inserting groove, and the rack gear portionis provided with a protrusion of a desired size protruding from a distalend thereof.

The top may include a blade which is formed with a top driver couplinggroove to be coupled to the coupling portion of the top driver, a topshaft which is fixed to a lower portion of the blade, a top housingwhich is installed to the lower portion of the blade to receive the topshaft in a rotatable state, and a bottom which is detachably installedto a lower portion of the top housing and has a bottom rotation shaft sothat the top spins on the ground.

The bottom rotation shaft may be detachably coupled to the bottom, sothat the bottom rotation shaft can be replaced.

The bottom further may have a spring which is installed between the topshaft and the bottom rotation shaft to provide a resilience force sothat a desired interval is maintained between the bottom rotation shaftand the top shaft.

The top may include a blade which is formed at an upper portion thereofwith a plurality of top driver coupling grooves to be coupled to thecoupling portions of the top driver, and at a lower portion thereof witha top shaft, a top housing which is installed to the lower portion ofthe blade to receive the top shaft in a rotatable state, and a bottomwhich is installed to a lower portion of the top housing to support thetop in a rotatable state.

Advantageous Effects

With the above configuration of the spinning top toy according to thepresent invention, in the state in which the top is spinning after thetop is launched from the launcher, the top can be moved, therebyimproving the amusement at the spinning top play.

Also, the rotating state of the top can be maintained in the launcher,and the spinning top can be released at the wanted launch position,thereby further improving the amusement at the spinning top play.

In addition, the winder can be easily coupled to the launcher in thestate in which the top is coupled to the launcher and is rotated,thereby increasing the rotational force of the spinning top.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of aspinning top toy according to the related art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a spinning top toy accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of thespinning top toy in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of thespinning top toy in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration ofa launcher for the spinning top toy in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration ofa top for the spinning top toy in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of thetop for the spinning top toy in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration ofa launcher for a spinning top toy according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of thelauncher for the spinning top toy in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of thespinning top toy in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configurationof a launcher for a spinning top toy according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodimentof the configuration of a pinion gear for the launcher in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the configuration of the pinion gear inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment ofthe configuration of a stopper for the launcher in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is s view illustrating an operating process of the stopper inFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a spinning top toy accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configurationof a launcher for the spinning top toy in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupled state ofthe launcher for the spinning top toy in FIG. 16.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a spinning top toy according tothe present invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the spinning top toy accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is aperspective view illustrating an assembled state of the spinning top toyin FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating theconfiguration of the spinning top toy in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an explodedperspective view illustrating the configuration of a launcher for thespinning top toy in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective viewillustrating the configuration of a top for the spinning top toy in FIG.2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration ofthe top for the spinning top toy in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7, the spinning top toy according to thepresent invention is movable while a top is spinning, and includes alauncher 100 for rotating and launching the top, the launcher 100 beingeasily coupled to a winder for providing the top with a rotationalforce, a top 200, and a winder 300.

The launcher 100 includes a launcher housing 110 which receives aportion of the winder 300 at one side, transmits the rotational forcegenerated by horizontal movement of the winder 300 to the top 200coupled to a lower portion to rotate the top 200, and separates thespinning top 200 at an any position from the launcher 100, a windercoupling portion 120, a pinion gear 130, a launch button 140, and a topdriver 150.

The launcher housing 110 has an accommodation space to accommodate thepinion gear 130 and the launch button 140 therein in such a way that thepinion gear and the launch button can rotate. The launcher housing 110is provided at one side with a tab 111 by which the user can hold thelauncher 100, and at the other side with a space which is cut in adesired size so that the winder 300 can move horizontally along adesired route when a portion of the winder 300 is inserted into thelauncher housing 110 and is brought into closely contact with the space.

Also, the launcher housing 110 has an upper housing 110 a and a lowerhousing 110 b. The upper housing 110 a is formed with a launch buttoninstalling hole 112 from which a portion of the launch button 140protrudes, and the lower housing 110 b is formed with a pinion gearinstalling hole 113 through which a portion of the pinion gear 130penetrates.

The winder coupling portion 120 is a cut space which is formed at oneside of the launcher housing 110, and has a first upper guide 121 a, afirst lower guide 121 b, and a second guide 122 which form a route insuch a way that a portion of the winder 300 is inserted into the spaceand is brought into closely contact with the pinion gear 130 installedin the launcher housing 110, and then the winder 300 closely contactedis moved along the side of the launcher housing 110 in a horizontaldirection.

The first upper guide 121 a is provided at one side of the upper housing110 a, and the first lower guide 121 b is provided at one side of thelower housing 110 b to be spaced apart from and parallel to the firstupper guide 121 a at a desired distance. A portion of the winder 300 isinserted into a space between the first upper guide 121 a and the firstlower guide 121 b.

The second guide 122 is installed in the upper and lower housings 110 aand 110 b which are spaced apart from and opposite to the first upperand lower guides 121 a and 121 b at a desired distance, and prevents thewinder 300, which is inserted into the space between the first upper andlower guides 121 a and 121 b, from further inserting into the launcherhousing 110. Also, the second guide 122 form a route so that theinserted winder 300 can move along the launcher housing 110 in thehorizontal direction.

Also, the second guide 122 is provided with a gear penetrating portion123 through which the rack gear formed on the inserted winder 300 ismeshed with the pinion gear 130 installed to the launcher housing 110.

The pinion gear 130 is installed in the launcher housing 110, and ismeshed with the winder 300 to rotate the top driver 150, and has a lowerbearing 131 and an upper bearing 132 which are rotatably installed inthe launcher housing 110 and support a rotation shaft of the pinion gear130 on the launcher housing 110 so that the pinion gear 130 can smoothlyrotate in the launcher housing 110.

The lower bearing 131 is installed in a pinion gear installing hole 113formed in the lower housing 110 b to smoothly rotate the pinion gear130, and the upper bearing 132 is installed in the upper housing 110 ato smoothly rotate the pinion gear 130.

Also, the pinion gear 130 and the upper bearing 132 are formed withthrough-holes 130 a and 132 a, respectively, through which a portion ofthe launch button 140 penetrates.

The launch button 140 is a top separator which is installed to the upperhousing 110 a of the launcher housing 110 and penetrates the launcher100 in the vertical direction so that the top 200 coupled to the topdriver 150 is separated from the top driver 150. The launch button 140has a launch button body 141 installed in the launch button installinghole 112 of the upper housing 110 a, a launch button firing pin 142extending from the launch button body 141 in a desired length andpenetrating the launcher 100 to press the upper portion of the top 200and thus separate the top 200, and a spring 143 for providing aresilient force so that the launch button body 141 is kept at a desiredposition.

The top driver 150 has a pinion gear engaging groove 151 formed at abody center of the top driver 150 to be rotated in cooperation with thepinion gear 130, and is coupled to the rotation shaft of the pinion gear130. The top driver 150 is rotatably installed to the bottom surface ofthe launcher housing 110. Coupling portions 152 extend downwardly fromthe bottom surface of the top driver 150 to be detachably coupled to topdriver coupling grooves 211 which are formed on a circumference of ablade 210 of the top 200.

The top driver 150 has a diameter larger than that of the blade 210 ofthe top 200, so that the circumference of the blade 210 of the top 200can be stably coupled to the coupling portions 152.

The coupling portion 152 is a V-shaped member, and an inner lowerportion of the coupling portion 152 is formed with a stepped portion153, so that the coupling portion 152 inserted into the top drivercoupling groove 211 is not separated from the top 200.

The top 200 can be easily coupled to or decoupled from the top driver150 by the V-shape of the coupling portion 152. The top 200 includes theblade 210 which is coupled to the top driver 150 of the launcher 100 tobe rotated by the top driver, is selectively separated from the topdriver 150 according to operation of the launcher button 140, and movesthe spinning top, a top shaft 220, a top housing 230, a top bottom 240,and a bottom rotation shaft 250.

The blade 210 is a metallic disc, and is formed with the plurality oftop driver coupling grooves 211 along its circumference to be coupled tothe coupling portions 152 of the top driver 150.

The top shaft 220 is installed to a lower portion of the blade 210, andhas a rectangular upper end to be firmly fixed to the blade and thusprevent relative rotation, or a knurled upper end to prevent slippagethereof.

The top housing 230 is a cylindrical member which is installed to thelower portion of the blade 210 to receive the top shaft 220 in arotatable state, and is supported by an upper bearing 221 and a lowerbearing 222 to enable the top shaft 220 to freely rotate.

The bottom 240 is detachably installed to a bottom coupling portion 231formed at a lower portion of the top housing 230 to provide the top 200with a rotation shaft, and has a bottom rotation shaft 250 and a spring251.

The bottom rotation shaft 250 is a protruding member of a desired shapewhich is concentrically installed to the top shaft 220, and is fixed bythe bottom 240. The bottom rotation shaft 250 can be replaced by a newrotation shaft of any shape, according to selection of the user, afterthe bottom 240 is separated from the top housing 230.

The spring 251 is installed between the bottom rotation shaft 250 andthe top shaft 220 to provide the resilience force so that a desiredinterval is maintained between the bottom rotation shaft 250 and the topshaft 220.

Specifically, the spring 251 absorbs the impact when the top 200 isseparated from the launcher 100, and then the bottom rotation shaft 250of the separated top 200 collides against the ground, thereby preventingthe rotational force of the top from being decreased.

The bottom 240 according to the present invention is characterized bybeing detachably coupled to the top housing 230, thereby replacing thebottom rotation shaft 250.

The winder 300 is configured so that a portion of the winder is insertedinto the winder coupling portion 120 of the launcher 100, and then ishorizontally moved along the winder coupler 120 so as to rotate thepinion gear 130. The winder has a rack gear 310, a winder tab 320, awinder coupling portion inserting groove 330, and a winder guide 340.

The rack gear 310 is a member having a strap-shaped body with a rackgear formed on one side thereof, and has a desired width.

The winder tab 320 is formed at the other end of the rack gear 310, sothat the user can pull the rack gear 310 by holding the winder tab.

The winder coupling portion inserting groove 330 is an insertion portionwhich is formed by cutting the rack gear 310 in a longitudinal directionto have a desired size so that the rack gear 310 is inserted into thecut space of the winder coupling portion 120. No rack gear is formed inthe winder coupling portion inserting groove 330 in which the piniongear 130 is not meshed.

The winder guide 340 is formed on one side of the winder couplingportion inserting groove 330, so as to guide the winder coupling portioninserting groove 330 in the horizontal direction, without coming outfrom the winder coupling portion 120, while the rack gear 310 is pulledout in the state in which the winder coupling portion 120 is insertedinto the winder coupling portion inserting groove 330.

The operation of the spinning top toy according to the first embodimentwill now be described.

In the state in which the user holds the tab 111 of the launcher 100,the top 200 is mounted onto the launcher 100 in such a way that thecoupling portions 152 of the top driver 150 are coupled to the topdriver coupling grooves 211 formed on the blade 210 of the top 200, andthe stepped portions 153 support the lower end of the blade 210.

If the top 200 is mounted, the winder coupling portion 120 is insertedand fitted through the winder coupling portion inserting groove 330 ofthe winder 300, and thus the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100.

In the state in which the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100, if the user pulls the winder 300 out in the horizontaldirection, the pinion gear 130 of the launcher 100 is meshed with therack gear 310 of the winder 300 to rotate the pinion gear 130.

If the pinion gear 130 rotates, the top driver 150 also rotates incooperation with the pinion gear 130 to provide the top with therotational force.

After that, in order to provide the top 200 with additional rotationalforce, the top 200 is transmitted with the increased rotational force byinserting the winder 300 into the side of the launcher 100 and thenpulling the winder out.

In the state in which the top 200 is transmitted by the sufficientrotational force, if the user moves the launcher 100 and the top 200 toany position, and then pushes the launcher button 140, the launch buttonfiring pin 142 moves the launcher 100 in the vertical direction to pressthe top surface of the blade 210 of the top 200. The top 200 supportedby the stepped portions 153 is separated from the top driver 150, andthen is released from the launcher 100.

The released top 200 is rotated by the rotational inertia of the topshaft 220 and the blade 210 even though the user holds the top housing230, and thus can maintain the rotation state, thereby enabling thespinning top to move.

Accordingly, the top can be moved in the state in which the top isrotating after the top is released from the launcher. Also, the rotatingstate of the top can be maintained in the launcher, and the spinning topcan be released at the wanted launch position. In addition, the windercan be easily coupled to the launcher in the state in which the top iscoupled to the launcher and is rotated, thereby increasing therotational force.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration ofa launcher for a spinning top toy according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating theconfiguration of the launcher for the spinning top toy in FIG. 8. FIG.10 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of the spinningtop toy in FIG. 8.

The spinning top toy according to the second embodiment includes, asillustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, a launcher 100′ having a winder couplingportion 120 which is formed at one side of the launcher housing 110′ bycutting the side in such a way that a portion of the winder 300 isinserted into the space and is brought into closely contact with thewinder coupling portion, a pinion gear 130′ which is meshed with androtated by the winder 300, a top driver 150 for rotating the top 200 incooperation with the pinion gear 130′, and a launch firing pin 140′which penetrates the launcher housing 110′, the pinion gear 130′, andthe top driver 150 and is moved in a vertical direction by a protrusion311 installed to a distal end of the winder 300 so as to press the top200, thereby separating the top 200 from the top driver 150; the top 200which is coupled to and rotated by the top driver 150 of the launcher100′, and is selectively separated from the top driver 150 according tooperation of the launch firing pin 140′; and the winder 300 which ishorizontally moved along the winder coupling portion 120 to rotate thepinion gear 130′, so that the launch firing pin 140′ is moved in avertical direction of the launcher 100′, with a portion of the winderbeing inserted into the winder coupling portion 120 of the launcher100′.

In the following description on the second embodiment, like referencenumerals are attached to elements identical to those in the firstembodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The launcher 100′ according to the second embodiment is substantiallyidentical to the launcher 100 according to the first embodiment, exceptfor the pinion gear 130′, the launch firing pin 140′, and a part of thewinder 300.

The launcher 100′ includes a launcher housing 110 which receives aportion of the winder 300 at one side, transmits the rotational forcegenerated by horizontal movement of the winder 300 to the top 200coupled to a lower portion to rotate the top 200, and separates thespinning top 200 at an any position from the launcher 100′, a windercoupling portion 120, a pinion gear 130′, a launch firing pin 140′, andthe top driver 150.

The pinion gear 130′ is installed in the launcher housing 110′, and ismeshed with the winder 300 to rotate the top driver 150, and has a lowerbearing 131′ and an upper bearing 132′ which are rotatably installed inthe launcher housing 110′ and support a rotation shaft of the piniongear 130′ on the launcher housing 110′ so that the pinion gear 130′ cansmoothly rotate in the launcher housing 110′. The pinion gear 130′ andthe upper bearing 132′ are formed with a through-hole, through which thelaunch firing pin 140′ can penetrate.

The pinion gear 130 has fixing bosses 130 b′ for preventing the topdriver 150, which is coupled to the lower end, from being separatedduring rotation.

The launch firing pin 140′ is a top separator which is moved in thevertical direction by the winder 300 to press the top surface of the top200, and has a launch firing pin body 141′, a firing pin guide 142′, afiring pin 143′, and a spring 144′.

The firing pin body 141′ is formed in an inverted conical shape, and thewhole launch firing pin 140′ is vertically upwardly moved by theprotrusion 311 provided on the distal end of the winder 300.

The launch firing pin guide 142′ extends from the top surface of thelaunch firing pin body 141′ to have a desired length, and guides thelaunch firing pin 140′ so that the launch firing pin penetrates theupper bearing 132′ and moves upwardly.

The firing pin 143′ extends from the bottom surface of the launch firingpin body 141′ to have a desired length, and a distal end of the firingpin 143′ strikes the top 200 to be separated from the launcher 100′.

The spring 144′ is configured to resiliently press the launch firing pinbody 141′ in a downward direction. If the launch firing pin body 141′ isupwardly moved by the winder 300, the spring 144′ provides a resilientforce for enabling the fining pin 143′ to strike the top 200, and aresilient force for returning the launch firing pin body 141′ to itsoriginal position.

The top driver 150 has a pinion gear engaging groove 151 formed at abody center of the top driver 150 to be rotated in cooperation with thepinion gear 130′, and is coupled to the rotation shaft of the piniongear 130′. The top driver 150 is rotatably installed to the bottomsurface of the launcher housing 110′. Coupling portions 152 extenddownwardly from the bottom surface of the top driver 150 to bedetachably coupled to top driver coupling grooves 211 which are formedon a circumference of blades 210 of the top 200.

Also, the top driver 150 has a fixing groove 151 a formed in the piniongear engaging groove 151 which is engaged to the fixing bosses 130 b′formed on the lower end of the pinion gear 130′ to prevent the topdriver 150 from being separated during rotation.

The winder 300 is provided with a rack gear portion 310 of a strap shapehaving the rack gear formed on one side. The rack gear portion 310 has aprotrusion 311 of a desired size protruding from a distal end thereof,and a winder tab 320 formed on the other end. The winder is alsoprovided with a winder coupling portion inserting groove 330 which isformed by cutting the rack gear portion 310 in a longitudinal directionto have a desired size so that the rack gear portion 310 is insertedinto the winder coupling portion inserting groove. When the winder 300is pulled out, the protrusion 311 presses a lower end of the launchfiring pin body 141′, and then the launch firing pin 140′ moves abovethe launcher 100′.

The operation of the spinning top toy according to the second embodimentwill now be described.

In the state in which the user holds the tab 111 of the launcher 100′,the top 200 is mounted onto the launcher 100′ in such a way that thecoupling portions 152 of the top driver 150 are coupled to the topdriver coupling grooves 211 formed on the blade 210 of the top 200, andthe stepped portions 153 support the lower end of the blade 210.

If the top 200 is mounted, the winder coupling portion 120 is insertedand fitted through the winder coupling portion inserting groove 330 ofthe winder 300, and thus the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100′.

In the state in which the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100′, if the user pulls the winder 300 out in the horizontaldirection, the pinion gear 130′ of the launcher 100′ is meshed with therack gear 310 of the winder 300 to rotate the pinion gear 130′.

If the pinion gear 130′ rotates, the top driver 150 also rotates incooperation with the pinion gear 130′ to provide the top with therotational force.

When the winder 300 is pulled out, the protrusion 311 formed on thedistal end of the rack gear portion 310 presses the launch firing pin140′ in the upward direction, and then the launch firing pin is movedupward and then is separated from the launcher 100′. The launch firingpin 140′ is moved downward by the resilient force of the spring 144′,and the firing pin 143′ presses (strikes) on the top surface of theblade 210 of the top 200. The top 200 supported by the stepped portion153 is separated from the top driver 150, and then is launched from thelauncher 100′.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configurationof a launcher for a spinning top toy according to the third embodimentof the present invention.

The spinning top toy according to the third embodiment includes, asillustrated in FIG. 11, a launcher 100″ having a winder coupling portion120 which is formed at one side of the launcher housing 110 by cuttingthe side in such a way that the winder 300 is inserted into the space, apinion gear 130 which is meshed with and rotated by the winder 300, atop driver 150 for rotating the top 200 in cooperation with the piniongear 130, and a stopper 160 which is installed at one side of thelauncher housing 110 to be meshed with the pinion gear 130, and stopsthe rotation of the pinion gear 130 so as to separate the top from thetop driver 150 by the inertia if the rotation of the pinion gear 130 isstopped; the top which is coupled to and rotated by the top driver 150of the launcher 100″, and is selectively separated from the top driver150 according to operation of the stopper 160; and the winder which ishorizontally moved along the winder coupling portion 120 to rotate thepinion gear 130′, with a portion of the winder being inserted into thewinder coupling portion 120 of the launcher 100″.

In the following description on the third embodiment, like referencenumerals are attached to elements identical to those in the firstembodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The launcher 100″ according to the third embodiment is substantiallyidentical to the launcher 100 according to the first embodiment, exceptfor the launcher 100″. The launcher 100″ stops the rotation of thepinion gear 130, so that the top is separated from the launcher 100″ bythe rotational inertia. The launcher 100″ includes the launcher housing110, the winder coupling portion 120, the pinion gear 130, the topdriver 150, and the stopper 160.

The stopper 160 is a top separator which is installed to a stopperinstalling hole 114 formed on one side of the launcher housing 110 so asto selectively forcibly the rotation of the pinion gear 130. The stopper160 has a stopper button 161 formed on one side, a stopper shaft 162extending from the stopper body 161 in a desired length and meshing withthe pinion gear 130, and a spring 163 for providing a resilient force sothat the stopper shaft 162 is spaced apart from the pinion gear 130 in adesired distance, and returning the stopper shaft 162 to its originalposition after the stopper shaft 162 moves and then meshes with thepinion gear 130.

Specifically, while the pinion gear 130 is freely rotated by therotational force supplied from the winder 300, if the user pushes thestopper 160, the end of the stopper shaft 162 is meshed with the piniongear 130 to forcibly stop the rotation of the pinion gear 130.

The spring 163 is installed between the topper button 161 and thelauncher housing 110 to provide the resilience force so that the stopperbutton 161 is spaced apart from the pinion gear 130 in a desireddistance, and to return the stopper 160 to its original position afterthe stopper 160 moves and then meshes with the pinion gear 130.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the launcher 100″ may further have anacceleration pinion gear 133 which is meshed with the pinion gear 130 toincrease the number of revolutions of the pinion gear 130 to be rotatedby the winder 300.

Specifically, the acceleration pinion gear 133 is installed to one sideof the pinion gear 130, and has a first gear 133 a which is meshed withthe winder 300, and a second gear 133 b which is formed conically withthe first gear 133 a to be meshed with the pinion gear 130 and has adiameter lager than that of the first gear 133 a.

The first gear 133 a is a gear of a desired diameter, and if the firstgear is meshed and rotated with the rack gear formed on the winder 300,the second large gear 133 b which is formed integrally with the firstgear 133 a is rotated at faster revolutions, so that the pinion gear 130produces bigger rotational force, thereby providing the top with thesufficient rotational force.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, an idle gear 134 may be installed between thepinion gear 130 and the acceleration pinion gear 133 so that therotation direction of the pinion gear 130 is equal to that of theacceleration pinion gear 133.

In this embodiment, if the user pushes the stopper button 161, thestopper 160 operates. However, the stopper can be operated by the winder300.

Referring to FIG. 14, the stopper 160′ is a U-shaped member which isinstalled around the pinion gear 130 to selectively forcibly stop therotation of the pinion gear 130. The stopper 160′ has a protrusion 161′which is formed on an outside thereof to be engaged to the spring 163, astopper shaft 162′ which extends from an inside thereof in a desiredlength to be meshed with the pinion gear 130, and a spring 163′ which isengaged to the protrusion 161′ to resiliently maintain a proper positionof the stopper 160′.

With the above configuration of the stopper 160′, the pinion gear 130 ismeshed with and fixed by the stopper shaft 162′ so that the pinion gear130 is not rotated by the resilient force of the spring 163′, asillustrated in FIG. 15a . If the winder 300 moving along the first upperguide or the first lower guide 121 b of the winder coupling portion 120is inserted, the stopper 160′ is pressed and moved by the winder 300, asillustrated in FIG. 15b , and thus the pinion gear 130 is separated fromthe stopper shaft 162′, so that the pinion gear 130 can freely rotatewhile moving. If the winder 300 is released from the launcher 100″, thepinion gear 130 is meshed with the stopper shaft 162′ by the resilientforce of the spring 163′, thereby forcibly stopping the rotation of thepinion gear 130.

The operation of the spinning top toy according to the third embodimentwill now be described.

In the state in which the user holds the tab 111 of the launcher 100″,the top 200 (see FIG. 6) is mounted onto the launcher 100″ in such a waythat the coupling portions 152 of the top driver 150 are coupled to thetop driver coupling grooves 211 (see FIG. 6) formed on the blade 210(see FIG. 6) of the top 200, and the stepped portions 153 support thelower end of the blade 210.

If the top 200 is mounted, the winder coupling portion inserting groove330 of the winder 300 (see FIG. 2) is inserted and fitted through thewinder coupling portion 120, and thus the winder 300 is coupled to theside of the launcher 100″.

In the state in which the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100″, if the user pulls the winder 300 out in the horizontaldirection, the pinion gear 130 of the launcher 100″ is meshed with therack gear 310 of the winder 300 to rotate the pinion gear 130.

If the pinion gear 130 rotates, the top driver 150 also rotates incooperation with the pinion gear 130 to provide the top with therotational force.

In the case where the sufficient rotational force is not produced in theprocess of pulling the winder 300 out, the winder coupling portion 120of the launcher 100″ is again inserted into the winder coupling portioninserting groove 330. By pulling the winder tab 320 out in the state inwhich the winder 300 is engaged to the launcher 100″, the pinion gear130 is provided with the increased rotational force, and thus the top200 can be rotated at a higher speed.

If the stopper shaft 162 is meshed with the pinion gear 130 by pushingthe stopper 160 while the top 200 is spinning, the rotation of thepinion gear 130 is stopped. At this time, the top driver 150 which isengaged to the pinion gear 130 and thus is rotated is stopped.

If the rotation of the top driver 150 is stopped, the rotationalinertial is produced from the top 200 coupled to the coupling portions152, and the top 200 is moved toward the rotational direction by theproduced rotational inertia.

If the top 200 is moved toward the rotational direction by the producedrotational inertia, the blade 210 exceeds the supporting force of thestepped portions 153, and thus the top 200 moves toward the rotationaldirection along the slope of the coupling portions 152 so as to beseparated from the top driver, so that the top 200 having the sufficientrotational force is launched from the launcher 100″.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a spinning top toy accordingto the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is anexploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a launcherfor the spinning top toy in FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspectiveview illustrating a coupled state of the launcher for the spinning toptoy in FIG. 16.

In the following description on the fourth embodiment, like referencenumerals are attached to elements identical to those in the firstembodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The spinning top toy according to the fourth embodiment includes, asillustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18, a launcher 100″′ having a winder couplingportion 120 which is formed at one side of the launcher housing 110 bycutting the side in such a way that a portion of the winder 300 isinserted into the space and is brought into closely contact with thewinder coupling portion, a pinion gear 130″ which is meshed with androtated by the winder 300, a top driver 150′ for rotating the top 200 incooperation with the pinion gear 130″, and a launch operator 140″ whichpenetrates the launcher housing 110, the pinion gear 130″, and the topdriver 150′ and is connected to the top driver 150′ to move the topdriver 150′ in the vertical direction, so that coupling portions 152′supporting the top 200′ are moved, and thus the top 200′ is separatedfrom the top driver 150′; the top 200′ which is coupled to and rotatedby the top driver 150′ of the launcher 100′, and is selectivelyseparated from the top driver 150′ according to operation of the launchoperator 140″; and the winder 300 which is horizontally moved along thewinder coupling portion 120 to rotate the pinion gear 130″, so that thelaunch operator 140″ is moved upward, with a portion of the winder beinginserted into the winder coupling portion 120 of the launcher 100″′.

The spinning top toy according to the fourth embodiment is substantiallyidentical to that according to the first embodiment, except for thelauncher 100″′ and the top 200′.

More specifically, the launcher 100″′ is configured so that the piniongear 130″ and the launch operator 140″ are rotated together, and the topdriver 150′ is moved in the vertical direction, thereby separating thetop 200′ from the launcher 100″′ in accordance with the operation of thecoupling portions 152′. The top 200′ is formed on the top surfacethereof with top driver inserting grooves 212.

The pinion gear 130″ is rotatably installed in the launcher housing 110,and is meshed with the winder 300 to rotate the top driver 150′. Thepinion gear 130″ has a through-hole 130 a formed at a center thereof,and a keyed groove 130 b″ formed on an inner surface of the through-hole130 a″ to allow the launch operator 140″ to rotate with the pinion gear130″.

Also, the pinion gear has a lower bearing 131″ which supports a rotationshaft of the pinion gear 130″ on the launcher housing 110 so that thepinion gear 130″ can smoothly rotate in the launcher housing 110, and anupper bearing 132″ which supports a rotation shaft of the launchoperator 140″ so that the launch operator 140″ can smoothly rotate inthe launcher housing 110.

The launch operator 140″ is a top separator which is installed topenetrate the launcher 100″′ in the vertical direction and separates thetop 200′ from the top driver 150′ after the launch operator 140″, towhich the top is engaged, vertically moves to the upper portion. Thelaunch operator 140″ is rotatably installed to the launch buttoninstalling hole 112 through the upper bearing 132″, and penetrates thepinion gear installing hole 113 of the lower housing 110 b to be engagedto the top driver 150′. If inverted conical body of the launch operatoris engaged to the protrusion 311 protruding from the distal end of thewinder 300, the launch operator 140″ is vertically upwardly moved, andthus the top driver 150′ engaged to the distal end of the launchoperator 140″ is also vertically upwardly moved, and is returned to itsoriginal position by the spring 144″.

The launch operator 140″ has a key 145″ which is fitted into the keyedgroove 130 b″ of the pinion gear 130″, so as to rotate with the piniongear 130″.

The top driver 150′ has a lower housing 150 a′, an upper housing 150 b′,a pair of connectors 152′, and a support 157′.

The lower housing 150 a′ is formed with a pinion gear engaging groove151′ to which the launch operator 140″ is engaged, and elongatedcoupling portion penetrating holes 170 through which the couplingportions 152′ for fixing the top 200′ penetrates.

The top housing 150 b′ is installed on the lower housing 150 a′, and isformed with a first through-hole 171 through which the launch operator140″ penetrates, and second through-holes 172 through which insertionbosses 157 a′ of the support 157′ penetrate.

The coupling portions 152′ are installed in the coupling portionpenetrating holes 170 of the lower housing 150 a′ to be able to move toeach other. The coupling portions 152′ are spaced apart from each otherin a desired distance, and a distal end of each coupling portion 152′ isformed with a stepped portion 153′ to fix the top 200′.

An upper end of each coupling portion 152′ is formed with a couplingportion guide 154′ having an inclined groove. A spring fixing portion155′ is installed to one side of the coupling portion 152′, and a spring156′ is fixed to the spring fixing portion 155′ to resiliently maintaina gap between the coupling portions 152′ at a regular distance.

The support 157′ is placed below the bottom surface of the lower housing110 b, and the inclined insertion bosses 157 a′ formed at the distalends thereof penetrate the second through-holes 172 of the upper housing150 b′. The insertion boss 157 a′ is fitted into the inclined couplingportion guide 154′ of the coupling portion 152′ so that the couplingportion 152′ is supported to move inwardly in a radial direction,thereby closing the coupling portions 152′.

The top 200′ is formed on the top surface thereof with the plurality ofelongated top driver inserting grooves 212 to which the couplingportions 152′ of the top driver 150′ are fitted. The top 200′ includes ablade 210′ having a top shaft fixed to a lower portion thereof, a tophousing 230′ which is installed to the lower portion of the blade 210′to accommodate the top shaft in a rotatable state, and a bottom 240′which is installed to a lower portion of the top housing 2230′ to form arotation shaft around which the top 200′ rotates.

The bottom 240′ has a bottom rotation shaft 250′ which serves as arotation shaft for the top 200′, and the bottom rotation shaft 250′ is aprotruding member of a desired shape which is concentrically installedto the top shaft, and is fixed by the bottom 240′. The bottom rotationshaft 250′ can be replaced by a new rotation shaft of any shape,according to selection of the user, after the bottom 240′ is separatedfrom the top housing 230′.

A spring is installed between the bottom rotation shaft 250′ and the topshaft to provide the resilience force so that a desired interval ismaintained between the bottom rotation shaft 250′ and the top shaft. Thespring absorbs the impact when the bottom rotation shaft of the top 200′collides against the ground, thereby preventing the rotational force ofthe top from being decreased.

The operation of the spinning top toy according to the fourth embodimentwill now be described.

In the state in which the user holds the tab 111 of the launcher 100″′,the top 200′ is mounted onto the launcher 100″′ in such a way that thecoupling portions 152′ of the top driver 150′ are coupled to the topdriver coupling grooves 212 formed on the blade 210′ of the top 200′,and the stepped portions 153 support the blade 210′.

If the top 200′ is mounted, the winder coupling portion 120 is insertedand fitted through the winder coupling portion inserting groove 330 ofthe winder 300, and thus the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100′″.

In the state in which the winder 300 is coupled to the side of thelauncher 100″′, if the user pulls the winder 300 out in the horizontaldirection, the pinion gear 130″ of the launcher 100′″ is meshed with therack gear 310 of the winder 300 to rotate the pinion gear 130″.

If the pinion gear 130″ rotates, the top driver 150′ also rotates incooperation with the pinion gear 130″ to provide the top 200′ with therotational force.

When the winder 300 is pulled out, the protrusion formed on the distalend of the rack gear 310 presses the launch operator 140″ in the upwarddirection, and then is separated from the launcher 100″′. After that,the launch operator 140″ is moved upwardly, and the top driver 150′ isalso moved upwardly.

If the top driver 150′ is moved upwardly, the support 157′ is broughtinto close contact with the bottom surface of the lower housing 110 b,and thus no more moves. The insertion boss 157 a′ of the support 157′penetrates the second through-hole 172 of the top driver 150′, and isfitted into the inclined coupling portion guide 154′ of the couplingportion 152′.

In this instance, the coupling portions 152′ are inwardly moved in theradial direction to be closed by the inclined surface of the couplingportion guide 154′, and thus the top 200′ supported by the steppedportion 153′ of the coupling portion 152′ is separated from the launcher100″′.

If the launch operator 140″ is downwardly returned to its originalposition by the self-weight after the top 200′ is separated, thecoupling portion guides 154′ are also moved, and thus the couplingportions 152′, which are closed by the insertion boss 157 a′ of thesupport 157′, are outwardly opened to its original position by theresilient force of the spring 156′.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theparticular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by theembodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciatedthat those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodimentswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In each of the drawings used in the above description, the thickness ofthe lines or the scale of each element is modified appropriately inorder to make it recognizable. In addition, it is noted that in thisembodiment some terminologies are arbitrary defined and used in view ofthe function thereof, and are not limited as long as they can attain thepresent invention since those terminologies can be varied depending uponintention of users or operators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100, 100′ 100″, 100″′: Launcher-   110: Launcher housing-   110 a: Upper housing-   110 b: Lower housing-   111: Tab-   112: Launch button installing hole-   113: Pinion gear installing hole-   114: Stopper installing hole-   120: Winder coupling portion-   121 a: First upper guide-   121 b: First lower guide-   122: Second guide-   123: Gear penetrating portion-   130, 130′: Pinion gear-   130 a, 130 a′: Through-hole-   130 b′: Fixing boss-   131, 131′: Lower bearing-   132, 132′: Upper bearing-   132 a: Through-hole-   140: Launch button-   140′: Launch firing pin-   141: Launch button body-   141′: Launch firing pin body-   142: Launch button firing pin-   142′: Launch firing pin guide-   143: Spring-   143′: Firing pin-   144′: Spring-   150: Top driver-   151: Pinion gear engaging groove-   151 a′: Fixing groove-   152: Coupling portion-   153: Stepped portion-   160: Stopper-   161: Stopper button-   162: Stopper shaft-   163: Spring-   200: Top-   210: Blade-   211: Top driver coupling groove-   220: Top shaft-   221: Upper bearing-   222: Lower bearing-   230: Top housing-   231: Bottom coupling portion-   240: Bottom-   250: Winder-   310: Rack gear-   311: Protrusion-   340: Winder guide

What is claimed is:
 1. A spinning top toy comprising: a launcher havinga housing open on a portion of a side surface thereof and a top drivercoupled to a top to supportingly rotate the top, engaging with a portionof a winder inserted into the open side surface of the housing, andtransforming a movement of the winder into a rotary force to transferthe rotary force to the top; the top coupled to the launcher; and thewinder having the portion inserted into the open side surface of thehousing of the launcher in such a manner as to engage with the topdriver, and adapted to move in a horizontal direction to rotate the topdriver engaging therewith.
 2. The spinning top toy according to claim 1,wherein the launcher further comprises a top separator adapted toseparate the top coupled to the top driver from the launcher.
 3. Thespinning top toy according to claim 1, wherein the housing is incised onthe portion of the side surface thereof to insert the portion of thewinder thereinto and comprises guides for guiding the winder insertedinto the side surface of the housing to allow the winder to move in thehorizontal direction.
 4. The spinning top toy according to claim 1,wherein the top driver comprises a gear formed on the outer peripheralsurface thereof in such a manner as to engage with the winder.
 5. Thespinning top toy according to claim 1, wherein the top separatorpressurizes the top coupled to the top driver through upward/downwarddisplacement to allow the top to be separated from the launcher.
 6. Thespinning top toy according to claim 1, wherein the winder comprises agear formed along one side surface of a strap-shaped body thereof insuch a manner as to engage with the top driver and a groove formed onone side of the body to allow the winder to be inserted into the openside surface of the housing of the launcher.
 7. The spinning top toyaccording to claim 6, wherein the winder further comprises a protrusionformed on an end of the body to move the top separator inupward/downward directions.